Ground has been broken and dirt work is underway for the new Allnutt Funeral Services – Macy Chapel at 6521 20th St., Greeley. (Luanne Kadlub/lkadlub@greeleytribune.com)

Ground was broken Tuesday on the new Allnutt Funeral Services Macy Chapel, 100 years after its current building was built in downtown Greeley.

Rick Allnutt, whose family owned the 133-year-old business until last year when it was sold to Service Corporation International, a Houston-based publicly traded company, said the current building at 702 13th St. has outlived its usefulness.

"It was built when there was no A/C and no TV," he said.

Allnutt Funeral Services:133 years serving families

1886 – T.G. Macy founds T.G Macy Undertaker Business 1918 – T.G. Macy builds property at 702 13th St., Greeley 1890 – Frederic Allnutt arrives in Colorado and marries Macy's stepdaughter 1951 – Jack Allnutt enters the family business 1956 – Bill Allnutt joins his brother in the family business 1985 – Rick Allnutt joins his father and uncle in the family business 2017 – Allnutt Funeral Service sold to Service Corporation International 2018 – SCI breaks ground on new Allnutt Funeral Services Macy Chapel

The new 14,000-square-foot facility at 6521 20th St. in Greeley will include air conditioning and technology along with covered entry porches, a grand lobby, chapel, reception areas, hospitality areas and business office space, as well as private parking for families. It also will face south which, Allnutt noted, will mean no more icy steps in the wintertime.

Allnutt, now a consultant with Allnutt Family Services, purchased the four-acre property about three years ago with an eye toward expansion. He said SCI's willingness to take on the real estate as part of its offer to purchase the family business sealed the deal.

Michele Heusel, managing director for SCI, said the new facility will "allow us to better serve residents of the Greeley community with a space for remembrance, reflection and healing."

Construction on the new Allnutt Macy Chapel is expected to be completed by the beginning of next year. Roche Constructors is the general contractor. What happens to the downtown Greeley location has yet to be determined, Allnutt said.

SCI's Dignity Memorial network includes more than 2,000 funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers in North America, including 23 in Colorado.